“Perhaps you asked the wrong question,” spoke Lisa thoughtfully. She had a lot of experience dealing with computers. Oftentimes a question had to be phrased properly to get a response.
“Computer, what was the name of your ship’s point of origin?”
“The Human Federation of Worlds,” the computer responded promptly.
“And how many systems were in the Federation?” Lisa continued, pleased that the computer had answered her first question.
“That information is classified,” the computer replied.
“Was there a war going on?” Jason asked suddenly.
“Yes,” responded the computer.
“Who were you fighting?”
“The Hocklyn Empire.”
“Were the Hocklyns human?”
“No.”
Everyone was stunned as they gazed at each other. The war had been against aliens! This was not what any of them had wanted to hear.
Jason hesitated for a moment trying to decide just how to ask the next question. Evidently the computer would give out information as long as it wasn’t too detailed. “What happened to the Human Federation of Worlds?”
The computer was silent for a moment. It wasn’t going to answer the question until it was overruled by the watching AI. “The Federation was destroyed.”
Everyone in the room became quiet. Somewhere out in the galaxy an alien empire had wiped out a human civilization. A ship from that destroyed civilization had evidently made it to Earth’s Moon. The question was, why?
“What happened to the Hocklyns?” asked Colonel Greene, hoping that both sides had managed to wipe each other out. Earth didn’t need to get involved with a threat from space.
The AI had now taken over complete control of the computer. It wanted the humans to know what awaited them in their future. Later, when it revealed itself, the AI would give them even more detailed information.
“They still survive. Their empire comprises hundreds, possibly thousands of worlds.”
“Thousands,” Greene repeated stunned, his eyes widening in concern. He looked around at the others. “How did their empire get so large?”
“The Hocklyns are members of the Slaver Empire, which covers much of the center of the galaxy. Only twelve systems are actually inhabited by the Hocklyns. The other systems were all conquered by them or their allies.”
“Their allies?” asked Jason feeling uneasy. “What do you mean, their allies?”
“There are three other races along with the Hocklyns that control the military power of the Slaver Empire. These four races are each responsible for a section of the empire. The Hocklyns were responsible for the section in which the Human Federation of Worlds was located.”
“What do the Hocklyns do to the worlds they conquer, and why did they completely destroy the Human Federation of Worlds?” Jason asked, his tone indicting his concern.
They had just found out there were multiple alien worlds and none of them were friendly toward humans. If this Hocklyn Empire was still out there, how long would it be before they found Earth? Jason felt a huge emptiness form in the pit of his stomach. Looking at the others, Jason saw stunned and disbelieving looks upon their faces.
“The Hocklyns conquer a world and then that world works for the Slaver Empire, furnishing whatever material goods the empire requires of it. Conquered worlds are not allowed to have a military, and their populations are strictly controlled.”
“What happens if a world refuses to furnish what the Hocklyns demand?” asked Colonel Greene, looking over at Jason worriedly.
“The Hocklyns will make an example of that world so others will not attempt to do the same. They have been known to destroy the largest city on the planet, and then continue to wipe out other cities until the rebelling world capitulates to their demands.”
“What about the Human Federation of Worlds? Why were they destroyed and not conquered?” Jason asked. These Hocklyns sounded like a race he never wanted to encounter.
“The Federation chose to fight. We had a powerful fleet and felt it could stand up to the Hocklyns. We were wrong. The Hocklyns made an example of the Federation.”
The room was silent for a moment as everyone attempted to digest what the computer was telling them. This story sounded so fantastic! Nevertheless, this ship was a warship, and it was here on the Moon. There was no reason to think the computer was making this up.
“Why is your ship here?” asked Colonel Greene, fearing the answer.
“This was the only other known human world. We came to set up a base and warn your people that the Hocklyns are coming.”
The room was quiet, and it suddenly seemed colder. No one noticed that the computer was no longer answering with "this information is classified" any longer. The AI was in full control of the ship’s computer.
Jason stared at the computer with a cold chill running down his back. He was picturing his family back on Earth and the threat they might someday face. “When?” he asked.
Upon the front wall of the Command Center, the large viewscreen suddenly came to life. A map of the known galaxy appeared. The center was covered in red and as they watched, the red slowly grew as it spread out across the galaxy. It approached one of the spiral arms where there was a blinking emblem. It slowly reached the blinking emblem, causing it to go out, and then continued on.
Colonel Greene and Jason stepped over close to the screen. There were numbers scrolling across which they suspected represented a timeline.
“At the current rate of expansion, the Hocklyn Empire will reach this solar system in 268 of your years. The Slaver Empire will control the entire galaxy another 1,200 years after that.”
Everyone felt relief at the threat not being imminent.
“We have time, then,” spoke Colonel Greene, looking at the others. “We have 268 years to get our planet ready.”
“What do you mean?” Greg asked, confused. “Ready for what?”
“It means that learning how this ship functions and everything that goes into constructing a warship like this one will have to be researched,” Greene replied with dark and determined eyes. From a military standpoint, he understood the threat that the Hocklyns represented to the future of Earth. “This ship just became our planet’s greatest asset and perhaps its only hope for survival. If what this computer just told us is true, the Hocklyns are coming and there is nothing we can do to change that.”
The five others looked at each other, realizing just what Colonel Greene’s words meant. Then they gazed back at the large screen, which showed the red continuing to grow until it covered the entire galaxy. This discovery on the Moon was about to change life on Earth.
Chapter Five
Colonel Greene and Jason were inside one of the medical wards staring at one of the bodies on a table. It appeared to be that of a young man in his late twenties. There was considerable damage done to the body from the cold and airless environment in which it had been kept. Colonel Greene reached forward and pulled the covering completely off.
“Body seems to be completely human,” Greene commented as his eyes swept over all the visible parts. “I would need to do a complete autopsy to make sure.”
He walked over to several other bodies and, choosing a woman, did the same thing. She looked to be in her early to mid thirties. Everything looked perfectly normal for a human female.
“What do you think killed them?” Jason asked. He could count thirty bodies in this room. Three more rooms besides this one were full of bodies. That made a total of 120. He wondered just how large the ship’s crew complement had been?
Greene sighed deeply. This had been troubling him also. Ever since Commander Strong had told him about the dead bodies he had wondered what had happened.
“Some of them may have died in the crash,” he responded, taking the coverings off several more bodies. “With the state of the bodies, it’s difficult to tell. Out best bet may be to ask the computer.”
“I wonder if there’s a m
edical computer in here?” asked Jason, gazing around at all the equipment on the walls. The equipment showed very little damage as it was securely fastened down.
“Probably,” replied Greene, taking a moment to look around the room. “Once Lisa gets finished in the Command Center, we may have to bring her down here.”
“Have you sent Mission Control your report about the Hocklyns?” asked Jason, knowing this had been weighing heavily on the colonel’s mind. It had been on everyone’s minds.
“Not yet. I thought I would wait another day or two and see what other information we might be able to find. The people down on Earth will not be happy with that report.”
“What do you think they will do?” asked Jason, looking at the silent bodies on the tables and wondering what this ship had been like when it was fully operational. Now its crew was dead and the ship was wrecked.
Greene looked down at the floor, then over at Jason. “I don’t know, but exploring and learning everything about this wreck is going to become a national, if not world wide, priority.”
“This Hocklyn threat may be hard for some to accept. Even after hearing it from the computer, it still seems so unreal.”
“That’s why it’s important that we learn as much as we can. This ship alone should be proof enough of what the computer said.”
Jason nodded and stood looking at the dead humans. He wondered what type of lives they had lived. Had they actually witnessed the destruction of their worlds? Jason hoped not. He couldn’t imagine anything more horrifying than to watch everything you know come to an end and being powerless to stop it.
-
Greg was exploring with Lisa Gordon down a long corridor with a large hatch at the end of it. Lisa had downloaded some information from the ship’s computer and was trying to find the ship’s library. The computer had told them there was a room for the crew to enjoy something called holo vids and other entertainment. One of those forms of entertainment mentioned were books.
One of the rules they had implemented now required all exploration of the ship to be done by teams of two for everyone’s safety. It had taken them nearly forty minutes to reach this spot deep inside the center section. Greg had left a string of the small LED lights behind them. Looking back down the corridor at the dim lights, it gave him a sense of security knowing they marked the way back.
“Do you really think we will find anything useful in this entertainment room?” he asked as they arrived at the large, closed hatch. This would be the third closed hatch they had come across. The first two had opened easily.
He stopped and eyed the obstruction, hoping it would be easy to open. Almost unconsciously he glanced back down the corridor, shining his light. He had a bad habit of doing that. There was no one there; there never was. Just several of the dim glowing LED lights he had placed on the wall. Then the moment passed, and Greg turned back to Lisa.
“I don’t know,” confessed Lisa, looking over at Greg. “The computer in the Command Center confuses me. It seems to be severely limited in some of its data. In some subjects, it seems to have a lot of knowledge; in others it doesn’t know anything. Sometimes I feel as if I’m talking to two different systems. It doesn’t make a lot of sense.”
“I’m sure there’s an explanation,” Greg commented. “This computer is from another world; it may not be like the ones at home.”
“Perhaps,” Lisa responded, doubtfully. “I just feel as if we’re missing something important. The answer is there, I just have to find it.”
Greg reached forward and turned the large metal handle on the hatch. Much to his relief, it turned easily. With a push of his hand the hatch swung open, revealing another long corridor. The two stepped inside and began walking. Unseen by either of them, the hatch behind them swung back shut and locked.
-
The AI had been watching their progress. It had ordered the computer to give them the information about the ship’s entertainment center and library. Unfortunately, a power feedback from damaged systems had ordered the hatch to close and lock. The AI knew it was a result of the power it had shifted to this area so it could watch the two. Now the AI had a problem. The hatch could only be opened from one side as the circuits were damaged in the section that the two new humans were in. Someone would have to be sent to rescue them. The AI knew that it had no other choice. It would have to reveal itself to the humans still in the Command Center.
-
Jason and Adam Simmins were in the Command Center, cataloguing the ship’s systems and labeling what each one did. They were getting a general idea of the layout of the operating stations. They had Communications, Navigation, Environmental, Sensors, Propulsion, and Weapons so far identified and labeled. They would ask the computer a question about a console and then label the controls and readouts so as to better understand its function.
Jason was bent over another console, studying it, when Adam spoke to him in a nervous voice. “Commander, I think you need to turn around.”
Jason stood up, turned around, and froze at the sight in front of him. The large viewscreen on the front wall of the Command Center had come on, and a beautiful woman in her early twenties was on the screen. The view was from her waist up, and she was dressed in some type of dark blue military uniform.
“What’s that?” Adam asked breathlessly. “Where did she come from?”
Jason didn’t know what they could have done to make the viewscreen come on all by itself. But the girl on the screen was gorgeous. Her deep dark eyes and shoulder length black hair drew his undivided attention. Jason wondered if the ship’s computer had caused it. Was this one of the ship’s dead officers?
“I am the ship’s AI,” the woman on the screen spoke with a simple smile. “I have been watching you since you came aboard the Avenger.”
Jason was astonished and could hardly speak. “The Avenger? Is that the name of your ship?” he finally forced out, staring at the screen. He knew from his computer systems studies down on Earth what an AI was supposed to be.
“Yes. The Avenger is a light cruiser formerly in the service of the Federation before all of its worlds were destroyed.”
“You’re the reason the computer has been answering more of our questions,” Jason spoke in sudden understanding. He felt his heart pounding, realizing that now they might get all the rest of the answers they had been seeking. “It wasn’t the computer, it was you!”
“Yes.”
“What did your crew call you?”
“I’m Ariel,” the AI responded, her dark eyes focusing on Jason.
“Why did you choose now to make your presence known?”
“You have two crewmembers that have managed to get themselves locked inside a section of the ship. I am afraid it was my fault for feeding some power into that section so I could observe them. You will need to go and open the hatch manually so they can get out.”
“Which two crewmembers?” asked Jason, suspecting it was Greg and Lisa. They had gone to check out the ship’s recreation center.
“Greg and Lisa,” replied the AI, confirming Jason’s fear.
-
Greg and Lisa had found the recreation room. They were surprised to find it was more like a large recreation center. There were tables, chairs, weight equipment, a large number of viewscreens, and other items. There was a lot of other stuff that they had no idea what it was used for. The center was relatively intact as everything was anchored down securely to the floor. Instead of one room, there were several large rooms.
Lisa was walking around opening all the cabinets on one wall of the first room to see what they contained. Opening the largest one, her eyes grew wide when she saw all the books. There were hundreds of books in the large cabinet.
“You found them!” spoke Greg excitedly, looking over Lisa’s spacesuited shoulder.
Lisa took down a few and started turning the pages, which wasn’t easy to do with the gloves of her spacesuit. After a few minutes, she chose half a dozen that seemed to have a lo
t of pictures inside. She would study these when they got back to the Command Center. Perhaps it would give them some insight into the people of the Federation. How they lived, what they did for entertainment, and maybe even what their worlds had been like.
“Let’s go,” she said, turning to face Greg. “We can come back later and pick up some more. I want to show these to the others.”
Greg nodded; he would also like to come back down here later and try to figure out just what some of this equipment was for. This holo vid thing sounded intriguing.
The two turned and left the entertainment center, walking slowly back down the corridor. They came to a stop at the sealed hatch.
“How did that close?” Lisa asked, worriedly. She could have sworn they had left it open.
“I don’t know,” Greg responded uneasily as he tried to turn the handle. It wouldn’t budge.
Greg tried to apply even more force, but to no avail. “This isn’t good.”
“What do we do now?” asked Lisa, trying not to panic. Jason and Adam knew where they had gone, but it might be hours before they came looking.
Before Greg could answer, the handle turned on its own and the hatch swung open. Jason and Adam stood on the other side.
“I’m glad to see you two,” Greg said, relieved but wondering what they were doing here. “The hatch shut by itself, and we were sealed in.”
“We know,” responded Jason, thankful to see that Greg and Lisa were okay.
“How could you know that?” Lisa asked confused. Radios didn’t work inside the ship because of all the metal.
“I’ll show you,” Jason responded with a mysterious smile. “You’re not going to believe what just happened in the Command Center. I can’t explain; you have to see it for yourself. Lisa, you’re absolutely going to love this.”
-
Everyone was in the Command Center staring at the large viewscreen. Jason had gone by their makeshift quarters and told everyone they needed to come to the Command Center.
“What is it?” asked Colonel Greene, gazing at the young woman on the viewscreen. “Was this a member of the crew? How did you manage to get this image to come up on the screen?”
Slaver Wars 1: Moon Wreck Page 7